“You at a loss for words, Tanner?” I meant it as a joke, so when he responded with a very firm yes, my body warmed. “I’ll add this to my list.”
“Add it, cross it off but add it about ten more times.Have crazy hot sex with Tanner,” he replied, completely unaware of how his words affected me.
Ten more times?
He wants to do it again…ten more times?
“Kenzie?” He sat up and I felt his stare on me. “I’m going to clean up and be right back. Do you need anything?”
Do I need anything? Ha. Yes, a cool glass of water and a reality check.
“Kenzie?”
“Sorry, I was using one of your moves, pretending to sleep.”
“So funny, smartass.” He smacked my butt and went to the bathroom, giving me a couple of minutes to recover and collect myself. It would be easy to have regret creep into the blissful moment, and Tanner returned before I let my thoughts drift that way. He opted to wear just his shorts, leaving his chest on full display for me to ogle, and honestly, thank god for that simple gesture. “You haven’t moved.”
“I tried, but my limbs forgot how to work.”
He chuckled and picked up my way-too-large shirt that oozed sexiness. “Want your shirt back?”
“Thanks.” I quickly put it over my head so it covered my lady bits. Once I was covered, the mood seemed to shift between us. Tanner ruffled his hair with his hand, remaining right in the middle of my room and just out of reach. “So. That was…interesting.”
He smiled, but not a genuine one. “I didn’t come up here to do that, just so you know.”
“What was your plan then? You came in here with those big brown eyes and batted your insanely long eyelashes at me.”
He visibly relaxed at my words and rejoined me on the bed. He didn’t lie down, choosing to lean against the wall and leave a foot between us. I moved my feet under my purple blanket, putting a thin barrier up. “I came here to remove that stupid idea that I kissed you out of pity.”
“Well, when I saw Ambar in the bathroom in your shirt this morning… I rationalized why you would kiss me and sleep with someone else. Pity was the best answer I could come up with.” I shrugged, unabashed at my admittance. He seemed to appreciate it too, because he nodded and playfully nudged my shoulder with his hand.
“Silly, silly girl. We can erase that notion out of your mind.” His eyes twinkled at me, like a goddamn scene from a movie. “I’ll trade you a truth for a truth, but I don’t want to scare you.”
“Scare me?” My pulse raced at whatever thing he could say to me.He’ll tell Aaron? Aaron knows already? What will scare me?
He ran his hands over his face, a haunted, almost tortured look crossing it, before he said, “I tried to hook up with someone else, but couldn’t, because I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”
Okay, not terrifying.
Just a little bit.
“Just what a lady loves to hear,” I teased, regretting it when his face fell. “I’m guessing this is a first for you?”
“You think?” His eyes flared for a second, but I just kicked my foot out from under the blanket and poked him in the side. “What was that for?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong. You’re mad…because you were thinking about me and couldn’t get it up with another chick?”
“Dammit, Ken. No, what I’m saying,” he started and moved back toward the headboard so our shoulders touched, “is that I’ve never been attracted to someone like this before and I’m really out of my element. You’re my best friend’s sister, my roommate for the summer, and there are at least twenty reasons why we shouldn’t do this.”
His voice got real low again, dangerously low, like I wanted to close my eyes and have him whisper dirty things to me low. He sucked in a breath, saying my name like a curse. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Sorry?” I gave a cheesy smile. “I can’t help it. Sex hasneverbeen like that for me. Now, when I hear your rough voice, I think about your mouth on me and I get a little hot.”
“Christ, I knew this was a terrible idea.”
I stiffened at his words, but he reached out and put his hand on my neck, stopping me from getting up.
“I meant, thinking I could not do this again.”
